with the tax and fiscal cliff looming 21 days from now, is there a reason for even some slight optimism this evening? joining us now in studio, we welcome distinguished house members carolina maloney of new york and larry kudlow's house member in manhattan. and the republican from arizona. as always, welcome to both of you. dave, let me ask you this. i'm hearing a lot of this that there is a strategic retreat by the republican party. 57b and that they are not either in the house or senate going to block the middle class stax tax cuts which proliferate in terms of the bill. is that true, sir? >> i haven't been invited into the strategic retreat caucus. look. i hear more on the news than i ever actually come across in reality in d.c. so far, i do not see a willingness, particularly on the conservative side of the caucus, to give away our principles. >> i heard rand paul thursday night on this show. he sent a message to majority leader reed that he, rand paul, was a tea party caucus guy, free market guy, will not filibuster. he wants to get through it. he's going to vote against tax cuts b